Local airport pulls down federal grant

By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling Advertiser-Democrat Aug 25, 2011

OXFORD — A quarter of a million dollars in federal funding will touch down at the Oxford County Regional Airport (OCRA), it was announced on Friday.

The money will be used to address unsafe conditions on the airport's runway.

U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announced the funding, which came from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as part of a $650,000 package that will be split among three Maine airports.

"These FAA grants will help our state's airports make the necessary upgrades and developments to improve their air travel services and passenger safety," said Snowe and Collins in a joint statement.

The OCRA will receive $255,155 to rehabilitate hazard beacons and improve the safety of the 3,000-foot runway.

The airport has recently been the subject of a $1.8 million renovation project, including the rehabilitation of the runway, earthwork, and tree clearing.

Airports in Pittsfield and Eastport will receive the balance of the funding.